This would help the clubs defray costs in their early years as they sought to develop a new high-quality competition.

And Lowy, the Sydney-based property billionaire, did not rule out his company, Westfield, becoming a sponsor or marketing partner of the game.

As well, he revealed that under the radical reform proposals, clubs would be allowed to find equity or sponsorship from "any legitimate business" - local or overseas.

They would also be allowed to incorporate sponsors' titles into their club names. The league itself might also have a sponsor name in its title.

Lowy explained that the ASA planned to act as a "central clearing body", negotiating corporate and marketing deals for the league and the Socceroos, and use this cash to boost the clubs' revenue streams.

He was seeking to dampen fears that few investors or clubs would be able to raise all of the money needed to be part of the new league.

The ASA taskforce report on the restructured league, released on Monday, said that for clubs to be part of the new competition, they would need a turnover of $3.5 million to $4.5 million in year one, rising to $5.5 million in year five. They would also need to take a stake in the competition by investing $1 million in start-up capital in the autonomous company that would be set up to run the league itself.

"I just want to dispel some conceptions," Lowy said. "We are working with many marketing partners and sponsors to alleviate these costs.

"The new national league will have different standards of player, different presentation and generally a higher standard of play will be expected to attract more spectators to the game.

"We will be, and are, working to attract a substantial amount of funds to reduce the costs to the clubs."

Part of the money will come from a new media-rights deal. While speculation has been strong that a pay-TV deal will be struck with Fox and a free-to-air agreement with SBS, Lowy said the ASA had not even talked to the latter broadcaster yet.

The Seven network, whose contract the ASA cancelled when it wound up the old bankrupt Soccer Australia, could also be a contender, Lowy said.

"Seven will be one of the people that we will talk to. They got nothing out of the last arrangement - it did nothing for them or for us."

Lowy emphasised that the high standards demanded to be a team in the new league would be adhered to and the existing clubs would not be allowed to dilute the process with special pleading.

"We won't allow the (existing) clubs to drag things down. The present clubs playing at the present standard will not be able to exist - most of them. It is clear that there is a lot of support (for change).

"There will be no infighting here. We have a mandate from the soccer lovers of Australia to revamp the game and we going to do that. There will be no old-style political infighting in this new league."

Lowy said that while the ASA wanted to start the new league next November, he would hold off until early in 2005 and hold a shorter season if the architecture was not right.

"My dream is that it (the league) will be ready to go for next season. That may be a bit difficult, so maybe we will have a shorter season. I don't want to be locked into a timeframe, I want to be locked into success. This is not a charity; we are establishing a sports business here."

He emphasised again that the existing clubs were not being frozen out and would be welcome to make their case if they attracted new investors. But they would have to abide by the new rigorous standards.

Asked whether his business, Westfield, would be a corporate backer, he was equivocal. "It's a decision that will have to be made by the commercial management of Westfield."